Mandya: The Police on Wednesday registered FIRs against JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambarish for Poll Code violations.

The Bellur Police have lodged an FIR against Nikhil and his associate Kanaghatta Srinivas for hosting lunch for party workers at a coconut farm near Bellur in Nagamangala taluk without taking the EC’s permission.

This is said to be the 17th FIR against Nikhil who has been booked on various charges of Poll Code violations since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect on Mar.10.

The EC has also registered FIR against Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambarish and her poll campaigner Ravikanth of Nagamangala for campaigning in Nagamangala beyond the 10 pm deadline.

Audio Row: Case against Minister, Ex-Minister

The Election Commission has registered a case against Mandya District Minister C.S. Puttaraju and former Minister and veteran Congress leader G. Madegowda in connection with an audio tape row, in which G. Madegowda is said to have demanded money from Minister Puttaraju for campaigning on behalf of coalition candidate Nikhil.

The audio went viral, causing a ripple in political circles of Mandya.

Following a complaint by the Election Officer Jagadish, the Mandya West Police have filed a case against the two under section 171(E) of the IPC (Punishment for bribery), it is learnt.